Are you an international student hoping to pursue a master’s degree or PhD in the United States?
Graduate school in the U.S. can be expensive, but there are scholarships, fellowships, and university funding opportunities that can help international students pay for their education.
Some programs offer full funding, including tuition and living expenses. Others provide partial financial assistance, research funding, or stipends.
This guide highlights major opportunities for international students interested in pursuing graduate education at U.S. universities.
Who is this guide for?
- International students pursuing master’s degrees.
- International students pursuing PhD or doctoral programs.
- Women pursuing graduate education in eligible fields.
- Students interested in research, public policy, development, STEM, and other disciplines.
Important: Some scholarships are open to applicants from many countries, while others have specific nationality, gender, academic-field, or work-experience requirements. Always review the official eligibility rules.
PART 1: Graduate Scholarships for Multiple Fields of Study
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Award | Who Can Apply? | 2026–2027 Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | Tuition, living stipend, travel, and other benefits depending on the country program | International students from participating countries pursuing eligible master’s, doctoral, or research programs in the U.S. | Varies by country. Ethiopian applicants should check the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia’s Fulbright announcements. |
| Knight-Hennessy Scholars – Stanford University | Full funding for up to three years, including tuition, stipend, and educational expenses | Applicants of all nationalities pursuing eligible full-time graduate degrees at Stanford, including master’s, PhD, MBA, MD, JD, and other programs. | October 6, 2026 |
| AAUW International Fellowships | $20,000 for master’s; $25,000 for doctoral study | Women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing eligible graduate STEM degrees in the U.S. Specific academic and enrollment requirements apply. | September 17, 2026 |
| P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship | Up to $12,500 | Women from countries outside the U.S. and Canada pursuing graduate study at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and plan to return home after completing their education. | Eligibility forms: December 15, 2026; completed applications: February 1 or March 15, 2027, depending on enrollment status |
| Schlumberger Foundation – Faculty for the Future | Fellowship support for tuition and living expenses; amount varies by recipient | Women from eligible developing and emerging countries pursuing PhD or postdoctoral research in STEM at leading universities abroad. Ethiopia is an eligible country. | November 7, 2026 |
| Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program | Tuition, monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance, subject to program terms | Nationals of eligible developing countries with relevant professional experience who are admitted to participating development-related master’s programs. Ethiopia is eligible. Several participating programs are at U.S. universities. | Window 1: January 18–February 26, 2027; Window 2: March 29–May 21, 2027 |
| Rotary Peace Fellowship | Full funding for tuition, fees, living expenses, round-trip transportation, and field-study expenses | International applicants with professional experience and a commitment to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and development. Master’s programs are offered at selected Rotary Peace Centers, including U.S. partner universities. | May 15, 2027 for the anticipated 2028 cohort; verify the official cycle |
| Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme | Need-based funding structured as a combination of grant and loan | Outstanding students from selected countries who have no other means of financing postgraduate education. Ethiopia is not among the currently listed eligible countries. | Next cycle expected to open in early 2027; country eligibility applies |
Important scholarship details
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
This is one of the most important opportunities for international students who want to study in the United States. The program is administered through participating countries, so application requirements, available fields, award coverage, and deadlines differ by country.
Students from Ethiopia should monitor the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia’s official announcements.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars
This prestigious Stanford fellowship is open to students from all nationalities. Applicants must submit a separate application to Knight-Hennessy and to their chosen Stanford graduate program. The fellowship supports a wide range of graduate degrees.
Schlumberger Foundation – Faculty for the Future
This is particularly important for women from developing countries who want to pursue STEM research. Ethiopian women are included among eligible nationalities. Applicants should demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to contributing to their home countries.
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship
This is an especially valuable opportunity for Ethiopian professionals interested in development-related graduate education. It supports selected master’s programs at participating universities, including institutions in the United States.
PART 2: Graduate Scholarships by Field of Study
In addition to general graduate funding, international students should look for opportunities related to their academic discipline and research interests.
1. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Award | Who Can Apply? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schlumberger Foundation – Faculty for the Future | Tuition and living support, subject to award conditions | Women from eligible developing countries pursuing PhD or postdoctoral research in STEM abroad. | November 7, 2026 |
| AAUW International Fellowships | $20,000 master’s; $25,000 doctoral | Eligible international women pursuing qualifying STEM master’s or doctoral degrees in the U.S. | September 17, 2026 |
| PhRMA Foundation Fellowships | Varies by fellowship; some awards provide $30,000 per year | U.S. and international graduate researchers at eligible U.S. institutions pursuing pharmaceutical and biomedical research. Specific citizenship and research-area requirements apply. | Varies by fellowship; Drug Discovery second-cycle letter of intent: October 30, 2026 |
| Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship | Tuition, stipend, and professional development support | Graduate students pursuing computational science and engineering research. Check citizenship and program requirements before applying. | Varies by cycle |
2. Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, and Healthcare
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Award | Who Can Apply? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship | Tuition, living stipend, travel, and insurance | Eligible developing-country nationals pursuing participating master’s programs, including public health and health policy programs. | January 18–February 26, 2027; March 29–May 21, 2027 |
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | Varies by country program | International applicants pursuing eligible graduate study and research, including public health and other healthcare-related fields where offered. | Varies by country |
| NIH Research Training and Fellowships | Stipends and research-training support vary by program | Graduate researchers in biomedical and health-related research. Many individual NIH fellowship awards have U.S. citizenship or residency restrictions, so check each program carefully. | Varies by program |
3. Business, Economics, Finance, and Public Policy
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Award | Who Can Apply? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship | Full scholarship support under program terms | Eligible developing-country professionals pursuing participating master’s degrees in economics, public policy, development, and related fields. | January 18–February 26, 2027; March 29–May 21, 2027 |
| Knight-Hennessy Scholars | Full graduate funding for up to three years | International students admitted to eligible Stanford graduate programs, including MBA and other business-related degrees. | October 6, 2026 |
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | Varies by country program | International students pursuing eligible graduate degrees in economics, business, public administration, and related fields. | Varies by country |
| Rotary Peace Fellowship | Full funding | Applicants pursuing graduate education in peace, development, public policy, and related areas. | May 15, 2027 for anticipated 2028 cohort |
4. Education, Social Sciences, and Humanities
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Award | Who Can Apply? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | Varies by country | International graduate students pursuing eligible degrees and research in education, social sciences, humanities, and other fields. | Varies by country |
| P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship | Up to $12,500 | International women pursuing eligible graduate education in the U.S. or Canada. | December 15, 2026 eligibility form; February 1 or March 15, 2027 completed application |
| Knight-Hennessy Scholars | Full funding for up to three years | International applicants pursuing eligible graduate degrees at Stanford, including social sciences and humanities programs. | October 6, 2026 |
5. Law, International Relations, and Peace Studies
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Award | Who Can Apply? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary Peace Fellowship | Full funding for tuition, living expenses, transportation, and field study | International professionals committed to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Master’s programs are available at selected partner universities. | May 15, 2027 for anticipated 2028 cohort |
| Knight-Hennessy Scholars | Full graduate funding for up to three years | International students admitted to eligible Stanford graduate programs, including the JD. | October 6, 2026 |
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | Varies by country | Eligible international students pursuing graduate study in law, international relations, political science, and related disciplines. | Varies by country |
PART 3: Graduate Funding Through U.S. Universities
Do not overlook university funding. Some of the best opportunities for international graduate students are offered directly by the universities they attend.
When researching graduate programs, look for:
1. Graduate Research Assistantships
Students work with faculty on research projects. Funding may include a stipend, tuition coverage, and research experience.
2. Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Students assist with teaching, grading, tutorials, or laboratory instruction. Many universities offer stipends and tuition benefits.
3. University Fellowships
Some universities provide competitive funding packages to incoming master’s and PhD students. These may cover tuition, living expenses, or both.
4. Departmental Scholarships
Academic departments may have separate funding for students in engineering, business, education, public health, computer science, and other fields.
5. Fully Funded PhD Programs
Many U.S. research universities offer funding packages to admitted PhD students. These packages often combine tuition waivers, stipends, research work, and teaching assistantships. Funding is program-specific, so check the offer carefully.
PART 4: Important Tips for International Graduate Applicants
- Start early. Many graduate funding applications are due before the university’s final admission deadline.
- Apply to the university and scholarship separately when required. Some programs require two applications.
- Prepare your academic CV. Include research, internships, publications, leadership, and professional experience.
- Build relationships with professors. Strong academic recommendations are important for many fellowships.
- Prepare a statement of purpose. Explain your academic interests, career plans, and how your education will contribute to your community or country.
- Check nationality restrictions. Some scholarships are open globally, while others are limited to selected countries.
- Explore assistantships. Especially for PhD programs, assistantships may provide more comprehensive funding than a traditional scholarship.
- Understand the funding package. Confirm whether it covers tuition, living expenses, health insurance, travel, and fees.
Final Thoughts
International students have more graduate funding options than they may realize. From Fulbright and Knight-Hennessy to specialized STEM fellowships and development scholarships, there are opportunities worth researching across many disciplines.
Don’t focus only on scholarships with the word “scholarship” in their name. Fellowships, assistantships, research grants, and university funding can also help you earn a graduate degree without taking on excessive debt.
Save this guide, review the eligibility requirements, and start preparing your applications early.
Level Up Habesha — Helping first-generation students find educational opportunities, access financial resources, and build successful careers.
